I/Qowj MAY 18, 1912-
FROM THE BRITISH FLYING GROUNDS.
Brooklands Aerodrome.
ON Tuesday last week Pizey was out early on the Bristol-
Anzani monoplane for two circuits, but the machine was not lifting
up to Mwd foim, owing to engine being out of tune. Raynham on
the (ireen-engined Wright was also round for several circuits, but
wind prevented any school work.
Wednesday was windy all the morning, but Raynham managed to
get in a short solo, and later Sopwith took up Howard Wright.
In the evening of Thursday the weather cleared up, and a good
number of machines were at work. Hotchkiss made a solo on the
Bristol biplane, and then Shephard on the same machine secured the
second half of his brevet, flying in good style at 600 ft. Nesham,
also on the Bristol, made two figures of eight, and was only prevented
from going for his certificate by the increasing wind. Raynham on
the Wright put in an hour's tuition work with Captain Alston, who
also had a flight with Sopwith on the Bleriot. Fisher on the
Flanders made several flights, both solo and with a passenger.
On Friday morning Pizey started early with Percival for tuition
flights, while Bettington put in a good deal of rolling practice on
the Bristol monoplane. Raynham was on the Wright with Capt.
Alston and Snowdon Hedley, the latter making a good flight from
the pilot's seat. Duigan made a good flight on his little Avro with
35-h.p. E.N.V. engine, and the Pashleys were also out on the
number monoplane. In the evening I'izey and Hotchkiss were out
With Percival and Hotchkiss, and Allen later also made some
straights on the Anzani monoplane.
1 Hi Saturday morning, Fisher was flying for
on the Flanders with and without pupils.
Percival, who later did some rolling alone,
taken up by Hotchkiss for landing practice,
Macdonald piloting did several straights, showing a good turn of
speed. Raynham was up for over an hour teaching Capt.
Howard and Capt. Alston. Valentine made several flights
on a new Gnome-Bristol monoplane for testing purposes.
In the afternoon, a relay race was organised by the Brooklands Aero
Club, and in spite of a bad wind, six machines were lined up for the
start. The competitors were divided into the following pairs:
i, Sopwith (Bleriot) and I'arke (Avro biplane) ; 2, Pizey (Bristol
biplane), Raynham (Wright biplane); 3, Kemp (Flanders), Spencer
(Spencer biplane).
The rules were, the first man had to make two circuits of a maiked
course, then land, leave his machine, and deliver an envelope to his
team mate, who had to be ready with his engine running, who
flew round a similar course delivering the envelope to the judge.
The time was taken from the start of the first man to the final
delivery to the judge. The race proved to be exceedingly amusing
and at the same time brought out some excellent flying, the result
being in the order given above. The times were, Lieut. Parke and
Sopwith, 7 mins. 40sees., Pizey and Raynham 9 mins. 36 sees., and
a considerable time
Hotchkiss was with
He was then again
The Vickers with
Spencer and Kemp, 9 mins. 45 sees. The race to Chertsey had to
be abandoned owing to the wind.
Sunday morning work was begun early under splendid weather
conditions. Fisher on the Flanders made some good flights before
handing machine over to Manning, who made some very good
straights until the wind rose. The Vickers was doing straights and
half turns. Blondeau was giving instruction to a pupil on hi-; racing
Farman, while Gordon Bell made several circuits on the same
machine. Raynham, on the Wright, was testing, and Pizey was
up a good deal with pupils. Humphries brought out his
big monoplane for the first time for several months and after
rolling for some time up and down the ground, was unfor
tunate enough to run into Blondeau's Farman, which was
just about to start. The Farman being the lighter machine
suffered considerably, the whole of one side being carried away.
The wind then got up and remained bad for the rest of the day
the only flying in the afternoon being by Moorhouse and Raynham,
both of whom found the wind very bad.
Early on Monday morning Hotchkiss gave Henderson, a new
pupil, his first lesson, and Percival did some hops and rolling.
Bettington was on the Anzani monoplane for ten minutes rolling.
In the evening Sopwith was flying on the Bleriot with passengers,
and Hotchkiss was giving lessons to Henderson and Anderson.
Nesham then made a solo. Further flying was stopped for the
night owing to Fisher's lamentable accident.
Freshfield (The Mersey Aeroplane Co.).
PLANES, LTD., has decided to separate the aviation department
from its other departments, and the former will now be carried on at
Freshfield by Messrs. Fenwick and Swaby, under the title of the
Mersey Aeroplane Co. The new all-British monoplane will, for the
future, be known as the " Mersey" monoplane.
On Wednesday last week Fenwick took the machine over to
Waterloo, to visit the Liverpool School. Oddly enough Melly had
just started on his Bleriot to visit Freshfield and the two met half
way, and both returned to Waterloo. Melly was then taken up as
passenger, and was much impressed by the speed and stability of the
new machine. Later on Mr. Thompson, who is over 70 years of age
was taken up for several flights. Is this a record age for a passenger ?
The machine remained at Waterloo for the night.
On Thursday, Messrs. Hardman and Birch were each given a
flight, and both were astonished at the "Mersey's" speed and
steadiness. Then with Swaby beside him Fenwick returned to
Freshfield at the height of 1,000 ft., the journey taking only
seven minutes for the eight mile;. Monday morning Fenwick
took a trip to Southport, solus, and then took up Mr. Isaacson,
the maker of the Isaacson engine, who had come over purposely to
watch his engine at work. He commented enthusiastically on the
great feeling of safety and comfort given by the machine. Later in
the day Fenwick flew a circuit of about 40 miles over
Southport and district. Average height, 1,500 ft.
Liverpool Aviation School (Waterloo, near
Liverpool).
ON Monday, last week, Hardman was out on
the repaired Anzani and did several fine straight
flights of a mile or more at a height of often 30 ft.
Birch in the same machine did several short straight
flights. Next day, Birch was the first out on the
Anzani hopping, and then Hardman took a spell
and made a fine flight including a banked right-
hand turn after a flight of about a mile and a-half.
He also made several other straight flights of nearly
two miles. Birch then took the tiller, and in a flight
of nearly two miles long completed a left-hand turn.
Melly had the two-seater out and took Birch a
cross-country flight of 25 minutes' duration over the
surrounding country and over Sefton Church, at an
average height of 800 ft., during which Birch took
photographs of his home and Sefton Church.
London Aerodrome, Colllndale
Heudou. Avenue,
A REMINISCENCE.—The Flanders monoplane at Brooklands, as seen
from the rcof of its hangar. In conversation before It are Mr. E. V. B.
Fisher, the pilot In the muffler, and Mr. Duklnfleld-Jones.
448
Grahame-Whlte School.—Monday morning
last week opened beautifully and the school was hard
at it soon after daybreak, Mrs. Stocks was doing
straight rolls and Capt. Nicholas straight flights on
monoplane No. 4. On biplane No. 3 Mr. Lewis
Turner put in some straights for instruction to
Commander Yeats-Brown in the passenger seat.
Messrs. Roupelle and Kershaw did straight